A heated piece of metal cools according to the function c(x) = (.5)x - 10, where x is measured in hours. A device is added that aids in cooling according to the function h(x) = -x - 1. What will be the temperature of the metal after 5 hours?

Question

anonymous · Answer

Would i just plug in 5 for x?

anonymous · Answer

In a sense, yes. But you are given two equations that does the same thing. If they do the same thing, you can add them together right? 

so we can look at it as so: 

cooling = c(x) + h(x), plug in your equations then your "x"

anonymous · Answer

Would it be c(x)=(.5)-2x-11?

anonymous · Answer

Or c(x)=(-.5-x)x-10

anonymous · Answer

mmm no. Look at the earlier equation I gave you, so it's like this:$$cooling = c(x) + h(x)$$,we plug in your equations for each one:
$$cooling = ((.5)x-10) + (x-1)$$ simplify that and then plug in your "x=5"

anonymous · Answer

the last term is supposed to be (-x-1) and not (x-1) sorry there.

anonymous · Answer

$$cooling = ((.5)x-10) - ((-x)-1)$$